COLOGNE, Germany  The mid-January weather in Cologne was cold and gray, with a sprinkling of snow. You could say the same for the style trends inside the convention center at the 2013 IMM/LivingKitchen trade show. Launched two years ago, this event has become a top destination for kitchen professionals from around the world and an early view into upcoming kitchen design innovations and trends.

Many of the colors were as dark and chilly as the winter skies, with snowy cabinets and appliance fronts brightening things up a bit. Brown was also a dominant tone at the show, with rustic woods, glossy lacquers, smooth granites, bright glass and rough ceramics creating some serious style.

Image trends

The effect of all these browns, grays and whites was an earthy but sophisticated palette with a terrific blend of textures and finishes. Softening the strong looks was a lovely mid-toned blue on many of the lacquered cabinet fronts, and sexy, organic curves throughout the show. These curves gentled cabinet edges, sink corners, vent hoods and faucets.

At the other end of the style spectrum were a slew of skinny countertops. I spotted this trend two years ago at the same show and expect to see it show up in the States, too, in the next few years. (It requires a change of American thinking from bigger is better, but it will probably take hold over time.)

Two-toned faucets were also a strong and stylish trend. Their composite cladding typically matched the sinks on which they sat and created a slick, low-maintenance finish in combination with the metal. We are starting to see those in the U.S. already.

Smartphones and tablets are the inspiration for glass-front appliances, many with touch-screen and sleek knob controls. They came in browns, grays, blacks and whites and offered an appealing alternative to stainless. I’m hoping they make their way to the U.S. soon, too, but at present, there’s no release date here. I’m thinking we might start seeing them in 2014.

Technology trends

Smartphones have influenced other kitchen manufacturers, too, both in their sleek style and ability to offer customized usage for each owner. One countertop firm, TPB Barcelona, created a porcelain slab countertop that integrated induction cooking right into the counter without the traditional glass cooktop rectangle. It can be designed with as many burners as the owner desires and was a model of Sensible Style. They’re working on making it U.S. code-compliant but don’t have a release date here yet.

Also customizing-oriented, Gaggenau offered a flexible cooking center that allows homeowners to choose which modules they want to include. Induction, gas, griddle, steam and downdraft vents are all available options. These will be introduced in the U.S. in the spring.

When I first visited this show two years ago, (also as a hosted member of the BLANCO Design Council), Gaggenau introduced the very first full-surface induction cooktop. (B/S/H sister company Thermador introduced this technology in the U.S. last summer.) I was happy to see quite a few more full-surface models this year, as they provide more usable cooking surface to an already excellent cooking technology. More models will ultimately translate to more affordability.

• BLANCO showed off a faucet that incorporates instant-hot capability. It doesn’t have a U.S. release date yet.

• Miele introduced LED lighting built right into its refrigerator shelves for better visibility, as well as a dispenser on its built-in coffee systems that automatically adjusts to the height of your cup for less spillage. These don’t have U.S. release dates yet, either.

Material trends

There were more porcelain and ceramic slab counters (and cabinet fronts) than ever, I was happy to see. These versatile, durable, low-maintenance surfaces are starting to make their way into our market. Cosentino, maker of the Silestone you see at every Home Depot, is building a factory to manufacture these slabs, so it’s likely that in the next five years, they’ll start becoming as mass market as engineered stone.

Lacquer-front cabinets were very popular this year, whereas last time, textured laminates came on strong. Their rich, glossy finishes could signal a return to a less austere, recession-driven lifestyle. Or they could just signify the tremendous market power of Russia, which adores luxury goods.

Take-away points

Aside from the growing strength of the Russian market, which I’ve now seen in full force at my last two European trade shows, these are my take-aways from IMM/LivingKitchen:

• Smartphones and tablets will continue to influence how kitchen manufacturers design their products — both visually and functionally — and how the rest of us shape and use our kitchens.

• Expect to see porcelain and ceramic slab countertops come on strong in the next few years.

• Look for more and better induction cooktops. They already offer comparable performance to gas with more energy efficiency and safety.

• Kitchens will continue to integrate into living spaces, with less of a kitchen look and more of a living room feel.

Jamie Gold, AKBD, CAPS, is a local NKBA-certified, independent kitchen and bath designer and the author of “New Kitchen Ideas That Work,” (Taunton Press, 2012). She can be reached at (619) 796-2217 or online at jgkitchens.com